Daily Gospel Reflection for November 18, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Kerri Baunach

Today's Gospel: Luke 19:41-44

Do you have peace in your soul? Have you ever felt peace in your soul? We may have feelings of contentment at times, but is that really peace? Other times we may feel agitated, discontent, or fearful. Can we still have peace in our souls during those tough times? What is this peace that Jesus speaks of in today’s Gospel?

This passage left me perplexed at first, but a little historical perspective helped. Jesus is prophesying the destruction of the Temple. He mentions the enemy raising a “palisade against you” which is a type of wall the Romans would build to surround a city they were attacking. At the end He references Himself when he accuses them of not recognizing “the time of your visitation.”

With these visions of destruction and turmoil, it is difficult to focus our attention on finding a place of peace in our souls. True peace is recognizing the presence of God in our interior being. Once we recognize God there we also need to maintain that understanding of Him inside us. I think that maintenance of interior peace is the hardest, and the most important, thing to do in our lives.

It’s hard to find that interior peace when the second appliance in a week breaks down, the car is barely hanging on, and guests are due to arrive in a few days. Who has time to focus on maintaining peace? You do! And it’s more important during those stressful times than any other. Don’t let the peace Jesus can be for you be “hidden from your eyes.” Find it inside of you, because it is there, and cultivate it. You need it for those times of turmoil and stress. Jesus wants you to find the peace that only He can bring to your soul.

Ponder:

What can you do today to cultivate peace in your soul and grow closer to God?

Pray:

Dear Jesus, come into my soul and give me the strength to keep my focus on You so as not to be overwhelmed with the things of this world. Amen.

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Copyright 2021 Kerri Baunach

Kerri Baunach lives in Lexington, KY, with her husband and three boys. She’s a Benedictine Oblate with the Archabbey of St. Meinrad in Indiana, heads up the Vocations Ministry at her parish, and is a former writer and editor at CatholicSistas.com.